On the train heading to la ville de Québec

Well, the adventure continues.  I'm departing Kingston and heading to my next posting in la belle province, ou pays if you prefer.  Since joining the CF in March of 2010 I've been to bases in St Jean Quebec, Kingston Ontario, Wainwright Alberta, Meaford Ontario, Gagetown New Brunswick, Shilo Manitoba, and now its onward to Valcartier. 

I haven't been able to keep up with news and world events as much as I typically do, and this political junkie has basically tuned out the Ontario election.  I'm looking forward to once again being engaged with current events and the challenging times many are facing.  There's plenty going on certainly, events of political and economic import are happening all the time, I've just been too busy of late to fully soak everything in. 

Stay tuned, once I've settled into a routine I'm sure I'll have more to say. 

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Sooner or later the left must unite

That the Liberals and NDP will eventually unite is a foregone conclusion in my opinion, the only question is one of timing.  Will it be sooner or later?

The old Progressive Conservatives and Reform/Alliance parties watched the Liberals romp to 3 consecutive majorities before resolving their differences and joining forces as the Conservative Party of Canada.  Will the NDP and Liberals wait as long?  Not if they're smart.

The progressive left is far too fragmented and the Conservatives are too strong for Dippers and Grits to let pride get in the way of common sense.  Of course there will need to be compromise on both sides, but a look at the Conservatives shows it can be done. 

Interestingly Stephen Harper has managed to keep the old socially conservative Reform/Alliance wing on board despite ignoring issues like abortion and same sex marriage.  Fiscal conservatives haven't been too happy given the rampant spending, but we're starting to see signs that a return to balanced budgets is once again a priority.

In other words compromise can be achieved, and Canada's very existence is the result of compromise.  The NDP and Liberals will eventually come to that realization, its just a matter of time.  I'm quite certain Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are hoping its a long drawn out process. 

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10 years after 9/11 questions still abound

We're less than a week away from the 10th year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, 10 years since the biggest conspiracy ever. 

Don't bristle at the use of the word  "conspiracy".  That 9/11 was a conspiracy is not in doubt.  The only question is who were the conspirators.  The official story is that it was Muslim extremists who conspired to attack the heart of American capitalism because Islamic extremists hate the freedoms enjoyed by citizens of the U.S.A.   Others have suggested that there was involvement to one degree or another by U.S. security and/or intelligence agencies. 

Conspiracy is one of the most common, (if not the most common) criminal charges laid in our courts.  By simple definition it means:  An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act.  In other words two or more people acting together.  We're not talking about the assassination of JFK here, where the lone gunman theory endorsed by the Warren Commission discounted evidence of a conspiracy. 

But like the shooting of Kennedy, questions about 9/11 are still around and far too many have yet to be answered. 

• Why all the secrecy and foot dragging on having an investigation into the attacks? 
• Why did building 7 collapse so perfectly when it wasn't even hit by a plane?
• Who profited from all the short selling on stocks like UAL just before 9/11?
• Where did the anthrax used to terrorize U.S. lawmakers come from, and why were laced letters made to look like they were coming from Islamic extremists?
• Why did the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania practically disintegrate?

There are lots of questions out there, just go to 9/11 Truth Alliance for a quick primer.

Like the Kennedy assassination I suspect this will remain a riddle for a very long time to come.  Do I buy the official version?  No, there are far too many holes, too many unanswered - and in the case of mainstream corporate media - unasked questions. 

There's too much evidence of widespread foreknowledge of the attacks in my opinion to fully accept the official conspiracy.  But without a concerted and fully open inquiry I doubt we'll ever have all the answers.  Maybe Oliver Stone's grand kids will put out a movie in another 25 years. 

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Book Review "Broken Words" Understanding the grip Neo-Cons have on evangelicals

As the author of a blog I get occasional emails asking me to review a book or promote a particular cause.  In most cases I decline, and I've never agreed to review a book before...until now.

The book I was asked to review is entitled 'Broken Words' its subtitled 'The Abuse of Science and Faith In American Politics'   and is written by Jonathan Dudley.  I quickly agreed because this is a topic I find extremely compelling, and equally vexing.  I was raised with the Christian faith, and I still consider myself an adherent, so it is with some consternation that I witness the strong level of support the U.S Republican party and Canada's Conservatives garner from people who identify themselves as Christian. 

My Christianity is about tolerance, forgiveness and helping those in need...and these are not the values I see on the right hand side of the political landscape, be it in Canada or the U.S.  

I'll dispense with traditional form and give you my recommendation up front.  I consider this an important work and very much worth reading for those interested in understanding the dichotomy between American style evangelicals and the neo-conservative right wing element of the political spectrum. 

Before reading a book as contentious as this its important to understand an author's frame of reference and his bona fides.  Mr. Dudley takes on what he calls 'The Big Four' issues:  Abortion, Homosexuality, Evolution and Environmentalism from the perspective of a person raised in the fundamentalist, evangelical Christian tradition.  Along with that perspective he brings a BS in biology from Calvin College and a MA in religion from Yale University.   

The author doesn't attack these issues, he dissects them while carefully avoiding the usual venom and hyperbole which typically dominates the debate on these issues.  With respect to abortion he often references Exodus 21 v 21-25 wherein it clearly states that a pregnant woman's life is more valuable and superior to that of an unborn child or fetus.  While many of the religious right engage in arguments that are nothing short of literary contortion in efforts to support their 'abortion is murder' view, Dudley will have none of it.  If you're going to take the Bible literally you can't pick and choose only the parts that support your agenda.

And that is his springborad to the other big issues.  Its fascinating reading to see how these issues (the other three are homosexuality, evolution and environmentalism) have been used to wed the fundamentalist/evangelical Christian community to the GOP in the United States...and as a Canadian I see distinct similarities with our Conservative Party. 

If you're looking to order this book its available on amazon.ca - LINK -

Whether you're a born again Christian looking for answers to these questions or someone like myself interested in better understanding the dynamic between Christians and Neo-Cons, then this rates as a must read in my opinion. 

FYI full disclosure.  I received zero compensation for this review aside from the book itself and I am not associated with amazon.  If you order the book here or elsewhere it doesn't matter to me one way or another. 

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